Introduction
Making soup from scratch can be as simple as throwing ingredients into one appliance and pressing a button – but only if you pick the right type of soup maker. Between traditional jug-style models, heated blenders and multi-cookers with soup programs, it is not always obvious which design will suit your kitchen, habits and budget.
This guide walks through the main types of soup makers you will see when shopping: jug soup makers, blender-style soup makers and multi-cookers with soup functions. You will learn how each one works, what they are best at, where they fall short, and which type tends to suit singles, couples or families. Along the way you will find quick comparisons, capacity pointers and signposts to more in-depth guides such as a full soup maker buyer’s guide and dedicated round-ups for compact machines for small kitchens.
Key takeaways
- Jug soup makers combine a heated jug and motorised blade to cook and blend soup in one go, making them ideal for straightforward smooth or chunky soups for one household.
- Heated soup blenders look like traditional blenders but also heat and stir, giving you more versatility for smoothies, sauces and occasionally even jams, as with the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Soup Maker & Smoothie Blender.
- Multi-cookers with soup programs are the most flexible, handling soup, stews, rice and more, but they tend to be bulkier and have a slightly steeper learning curve.
- Capacity matters: around 1 litre usually suits singles and light appetites, 1.3–1.6 litres often works for couples, and 1.6 litres and above is better for families and batch cooking.
- Sauté functions, presets and cleaning effort vary significantly by type; deciding how often you cook, how much space you have and whether you want one-purpose or multi-purpose cooking will narrow your choices quickly.
Why types of soup makers matter
At a glance, most soup makers promise the same thing: add ingredients, press a program, enjoy hot soup. Under the lid, though, the way they heat, stir and blend varies a lot – and that affects how your soup tastes, how much control you have over texture, and how easy the machine is to live with. A simple jug model can be perfect if you mostly make classic vegetable soups, while a heated blender or multi-cooker may be better if you also want smoothies, sauces or one-pot meals.
The type you choose will influence the shape and size of the appliance on your worktop, how noisy it is, and whether it earns a permanent spot or ends up at the back of a cupboard. Jug designs tend to have fixed metal jugs with blade units in the lid, while heated blenders resemble tall glass or plastic blenders; multi-cookers are more like squat, lidded pots. If space is limited or sockets are scarce, these details matter as much as the recipe booklet.
Running costs may also differ. Most jug soup makers and heated blenders use around 800–1000 watts, running for roughly half an hour per batch. Multi-cookers can draw more power but often cook under pressure, spending less time at full heat. While the difference per batch is small, if you make soup frequently you may notice it over time. For a more detailed breakdown of capacities and efficiency you can also explore large-capacity soup makers for families and batch cooking.
How to choose between jug, blender and multi-cooker
Start with two simple questions: how often do you make soup, and what else do you want the appliance to do? If your main goal is convenient weekday soup with minimum thinking, a straightforward jug soup maker is usually enough. These have set programs for smooth and chunky soups, and some include reheat or blend-only functions so you can tweak the texture at the end.
If you also want to blend smoothies, crush ice or make sauces, a heated blender-style soup maker can consolidate several tools into one. These look and feel like a normal blender, but with built-in heating, auto-stir features and pre-set programs for smoothies, soups and sometimes jams. A good example is the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Soup Maker & Smoothie Blender, which combines all three in a single jug with an angled digital display and overspill sensor.
Multi-cookers sit at the other end of the scale. If you enjoy batch-cooking stews, curries, rice dishes and beans, as well as soup, a multi-cooker with soup, sauté and slow cook or pressure cook programs can replace several pans. They usually need a little more involvement: you pick the mode, set times and occasionally release pressure. If you are not sure whether you really need both a soup maker and a multi-cooker, it is worth reading a comparison such as soup maker vs multi-cooker to understand where the overlaps and gaps appear.
Finally, think about who you are cooking for. Compact 1-litre jug models such as the Morphy Richards Compact Soup Maker suit singles, couples or small kitchens. Standard jug or blender models of around 1.6 litres, like the Morphy Richards Classic 1.6L Soup Maker, are better for families or anyone who likes leftovers for lunch.
Common mistakes when picking a soup maker type
One frequent mistake is focusing only on capacity or headline power and ignoring how you actually cook. A large jug soup maker might sound appealing for batch cooking, but if you mostly make one or two portions at a time it may refuse to run below a minimum fill level, forcing you to cook more than you need. Conversely, choosing a compact 1-litre jug because it is cheaper can be frustrating if you often host guests or want to freeze batches.
Another trap is underestimating cleaning effort. Jug soup makers with fixed metal pots are robust but can be awkward to rinse if soup burns to the bottom or if you do a lot of creamy recipes that cling to the sides. Heated blenders may have cleaning programs that help, but some have more parts to dismantle. Multi-cookers often have dishwasher-safe inner pots, yet their lids and sealing rings need periodic deep cleaning to avoid lingering smells. It is worth picturing your typical week and asking whether you will happily clean the machine immediately after cooking, or whether it is likely to sit until later.
It is also easy to confuse a dedicated soup maker with a soup kettle. A soup maker cooks and blends, while a soup kettle mainly keeps pre-cooked soup at serving temperature. If you regularly cater buffets or family gatherings, you might need both; otherwise, a kettle alone will not replace a cooking appliance. For more detail on this difference, see a comparison such as soup maker vs soup kettle, which clarifies when one or the other makes sense.
A helpful rule of thumb: pick the simplest type that reliably does what you need on your busiest day of the week, not your most ambitious cooking day. That way the appliance earns its keep instead of becoming another gadget.
Main types of soup makers explained
Most home soup makers fall into three broad categories: jug soup makers, heated soup blenders and multi-cookers with soup programs. They can all deliver hot soup from raw ingredients, but they differ in shape, controls, flexibility and how actively you need to cook.
Jug soup makers
Jug soup makers are purpose-built for soup. They typically look like a metal jug with a handled body and a lid that houses the motor and blades. You add chopped vegetables, stock and seasonings to the jug, choose a preset such as smooth or chunky, and the machine heats, stirs and blends automatically. Cooking usually takes around half an hour, with the blade pulsing occasionally to prevent sticking and to break down ingredients.
Strengths include simplicity, reliability and usually a compact footprint. Models around 1 litre, such as the Morphy Richards Compact Soup Maker, are useful for small kitchens or solo cooks, while 1.6-litre jugs like the Morphy Richards Classic 1.6L Soup Maker make about four portions at a time. Some jug models include extra settings such as blend-only (for smoothies or sauces), reheat, and occasionally a keep-warm function.
On the downside, jug soup makers are relatively single-purpose. While some can manage smoothies or basic milkshakes, the jug shape and blade design are tuned more toward hot soup than fine smoothie textures or heavy-duty ice crushing. Cleaning can require a quick soak if food sticks to the bottom, and because the jug is often not detachable from the base, you usually rinse it carefully at the sink rather than submerging it fully. If you know that soup is your main priority and you want a dependable, press-and-forget option, jug models are usually the most straightforward choice.
Heated soup blenders
Heated soup blenders bridge the gap between a standard blender and a jug soup maker. They look and operate much like a blending jug on a base, but with in-built heating elements and specific soup programs. You can generally choose between smooth and chunky soups, but you can also run cold blending programs for smoothies or milkshakes, and sometimes specialist cycles for sauces or jams.
For example, the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Soup Maker & Smoothie Blender combines a soup maker, smoothie blender and jam maker in a single 1.6-litre jug. It includes an easy-to-read angled digital display, auto-stir to reduce catching, and an overspill sensor to help prevent messy boil-overs. These kinds of features make heated blenders attractive if you want one jug on your counter that can cover both hot and cold recipes.
Heated blenders tend to have more precise speed control and sometimes more powerful motors than basic jug soup makers. That gives smoother results for pureed soups and smoothies, and better performance with fibrous vegetables. However, they can be taller and heavier, so check that the jug will fit under your cupboards. Cleaning is often easier thanks to glass or coated jugs and self-clean programs, but the lid seals, blades and any removable parts still need regular rinsing.
Multi-cookers with soup programs
Multi-cookers are the most flexible category. While they may not be labelled as soup makers first, many have dedicated soup presets or pressure-cook settings designed for broths, stews and pulses. Instead of blending within the pot, you typically cook the soup base in the multi-cooker and then either serve it chunky or use a hand blender at the end if you prefer it smooth.
The main advantage is versatility: a good multi-cooker can sauté onions, pressure-cook dried beans, simmer stews, steam vegetables and cook rice, all with temperature and time control. If you only occasionally make soup, but you do cook a lot of one-pot dishes, a multi-cooker might be the more efficient purchase. Some models include extensive presets and digital displays to guide you, although that breadth of options can feel daunting at first.
Where multi-cookers lag behind jug soup makers and heated blenders is the true one-touch soup experience. You usually need to do more steps manually, especially if you want silky smooth soups. They are also physically larger and heavier, so they demand more shelf and counter space. For readers weighing up this route, it can help to look at comparisons such as soup maker alternatives versus multi-cookers and pots to see whether you prefer all-in-one cooking or a simple dedicated appliance plus a stick blender.
Capacity, portions and household size
Capacity has a direct effect on which type of soup maker will feel convenient. Most jug soup makers and heated blenders sit between 1 litre and 1.6 litres. As a rough guide, 1 litre makes around two generous bowls or three smaller portions, while 1.6 litres usually gives four to six bowls, depending on how thick you prefer your soup.
Singles and couples in small kitchens often gravitate towards compact jug machines, as they are lighter to handle and easier to store. The Morphy Richards Compact Soup Maker, for instance, has a 1-litre capacity that suits two portions with a little left over. Families, or anyone who likes to freeze extra batches, are better served by 1.6-litre jugs such as the Morphy Richards Classic 1.6L Soup Maker or similarly sized heated blenders.
Multi-cookers vary more widely, with capacities from around 3 litres to beyond 6 litres in many cases. That makes them better suited to families, meal-preppers and anyone feeding multiple people regularly. However, very large pots can be overkill if you only cook small volumes of soup; some recipes do not scale down well because they need a minimum volume of liquid to cook safely and evenly. Matching capacity to your most frequent use-case – daily lunch for two, weekly batch cooking, or occasional big-batch stews – ensures you get value from the appliance without wasting space or energy.
Presets, sauté functions and cleaning effort
Beyond basic smooth and chunky soup programs, additional features can nudge you towards one type of soup maker over another. Many jug models now include a sauté function in the base, allowing you to soften onions or toast spices directly in the jug before adding liquid. This adds depth of flavour without an extra pan. Heated blenders rarely sauté in the same way, although some can heat gently for sauces. Multi-cookers tend to excel here, with a dedicated sauté mode that works more like a traditional hob.
Preset programs also differ. Jug soup makers generally keep things minimal: smooth, chunky, blend and maybe reheat. Heated blenders add cold blend, smoothie and sometimes dedicated cleaning programs or specialty options such as jam, as seen on the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1. Multi-cookers offer the broadest set of programs: soup, stew, rice, slow cook, pressure cook and more, often with adjustable times that you can fine-tune as you grow familiar with the machine.
Cleaning effort varies by type and by model. Metal jug soup makers are robust and resist staining, but you need to avoid immersing the electrical parts and take care around fixed blades. Heated blenders often use glass or durable plastic jugs that can be filled with warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid, then run on a cleaning cycle. The auto-stir and overspill sensors on some models can reduce burnt-on residue by keeping the contents moving. Multi-cookers frequently have removable inner pots that are dishwasher safe, but the lid assemblies need attention, especially the gasket and steam valve areas, to prevent lingering odours.
Use-case snapshots: which type suits whom?
If you are mainly interested in fast, fuss-free soup on work nights, a mid-range jug soup maker is usually the obvious fit. You add roughly chopped ingredients, select smooth or chunky, then walk away until the beep. The Morphy Richards Classic 1.6L Soup Maker is a good example of this classic format, offering presets and a clear LED panel in a family-friendly capacity.
For home cooks who like experimenting across hot and cold recipes with minimal extra gadgets, a heated blender-style soup maker is more appealing. Something like the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Soup Maker & Smoothie Blender can switch from morning smoothies to lunchtime soup to evening sauces, all in one jug. This versatility is especially valuable if you have limited cupboard space but want a tool that earns its place on the counter.
If you batch-cook soups alongside chillies, curries and grains, or you are replacing several pans and a slow cooker in one go, a multi-cooker will likely serve you better than a dedicated soup maker. You sacrifice the one-button blend convenience, but you gain a deep pot with sauté and simmer functions, pressure cook modes for tougher cuts of meat and dried beans, and often delayed timers for flexible meal planning. It is then easy to decide whether to finish soups with a hand blender or enjoy them chunky straight from the pot.
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FAQ
Is a jug soup maker or heated blender better for everyday soup?
A jug soup maker is usually better if you want the most straightforward, soup-focused experience with minimal buttons. Heated blenders are more versatile for smoothies and sauces as well as soup, but they can be taller, heavier and have more settings to learn. If soup is your main priority, a reliable jug model like the Morphy Richards Classic 1.6L Soup Maker is usually a safe choice.
Do I need a multi-cooker if I already have a soup maker?
Not necessarily. A soup maker covers hot blended soups and some simple sauces, which may be all you need. A multi-cooker becomes worthwhile if you also want to pressure-cook beans and stews, slow cook, prepare rice or replace several pans. If you only make soup and occasional stews, keeping a jug soup maker and a normal pot may be simpler and more space-efficient.
What size soup maker should I choose for two people?
For two people, a capacity of around 1–1.3 litres usually works well. A compact 1-litre jug such as the Morphy Richards Compact Soup Maker will make two generous bowls or allow for a small leftover portion. If you like to batch-cook or want to freeze portions, stepping up to a 1.6-litre jug or heated blender gives more flexibility.
Are soup makers hard to clean?
Most modern soup makers are designed for quick cleaning, but effort varies by type. Metal jug models may need a brief soak if ingredients stick to the base; heated blenders often use self-clean programs where you blend warm water and washing-up liquid. Multi-cookers have dishwasher-safe inner pots in many cases, but you need to clean the lid and gaskets by hand. Rinsing any type of soup maker soon after use tends to make cleaning much easier.
